Safe Web Browsing

1

Monitor your child's online activities by keeping the devices and screens in a central and easily accessible location of the house.

2

Never let your children chat privately in a chat room as most child predators use them to target kids.

3

Make your kids use an online nickname if a site requires them to submit their names to “personalize” the web content.

4

Make your child use browsers that are created just for kids such as Kiddle or KidzSearch.

5

If your kids are allowed to shop online, teach them the importance of only shopping from secure websites.

6

Make sure your children only visit secure websites that support HTTPS.

Passwords

7

Make sure your tech-savvy teens don’t have administrative access to make changes to passwords and content filters.

8

Tell your kids to never share their passwords with anyone; the only people that should have access to their passwords should be the parents or guardians.

9

Help your child create strong and hack-proof passwords as passwords are the primary defense against malicious actors on the internet.

Social Media

10

Set limits on social media usage for older kids and teens and use privacy features and content filters.

11

Review all games, apps, and social media sites before they are downloaded or used by your children.

12

Never let your children share any personal pictures or videos on any website or social media platform.

13

Unless your kids are old enough to navigate the internet alone, block or disallow the use of instant messaging (IM), email, picture, and video messaging and any type of message boards.

14

Teens who go on social media platforms should be taught to not disclose personal information when sharing milestones or updates with their friends.

15

Block any location access settings to every social media app or platform in use.

Parental Controls

16

Create a list of approved websites that your child can visit and use parental software to enforce it.

17

Take advantage of your browser's in-built parental controls and set up filters on each of your child's devices.

18

Limit your child’s access to certain websites, keystrokes, and search returns.

19

Turn on the Google Safe Search feature by going to Settings on the Google homepage and selecting “Turn on SafeSearch.”

20

Regularly check the browser's history to see which website your child has accessed or tried to access.

21

Invest in a VPN to place an extra barrier between your children's internet activities and the bad actors on the internet.

22

Utilize your device and internet service provider to block inappropriate websites, keywords, and search returns.

23

Manage and pause your kid's online screen time by using something like the Circle app.

24

Check and confirm the age ratings for all the videos, movies, and games that your children access online.

Security Awareness

25

Teach the kids to never share their personal information or that of their parents and siblings when interacting online.

26

Teach your kids the dangers of clicking on phishing links and attachments inside emails.

27

Talk to your children about “stranger danger” and how it also applies to the online world.

28

Educate your kids on internet safety by telling them about the lurking dangers of the internet.

29

Teach your kids to be as cautious about the internet as they are in real life e.g. when they are crossing a road.

30

Inform your children on what is appropriate for them to watch or do online based on their age.

31

Teach your kids never to click on any links on a website, even if they sound legitimate.

32

If possible, enroll yourself and your children in security awareness training that focuses on online communications.

33

Visit websites like Online Safety Quiz and NetSmartz Kids that offer educational games about internet safety.

Rules

34

Establish and enforce guidelines, rules, and time limits for internet usage based on your child's age and educational requirements.

35

Involve the kids in decision-making when setting up the internet rules; kids follow rules more easily if they feel that they played a part in implementing them.

36

Do not allow file-sharing programs to be installed on your computer.

37

Do not allow your kids to use a webcam when online unless they are talking with family.

38

Any video conferencing that your children partake in should be done from shared spaces rather than their bedrooms.

39

Always remember to share your family's internet rules with babysitters and helpers.

Internet Ethics

40

Protect your kids from online bullies by teaching them the basics of a kind, responsible, and safe online behavior.

41

Respect your child's privacy when necessary to build trust, but don't give them completely free rein.

42

Inform your children to never respond to rude or inappropriate messages or emails.

43

Teach your children to be good online citizens and not do anything that hurts other people or goes against the law.

44

Lead your children by example; if you spend excessive time online or overshare on social media, then try to cut down on that.

Parental Involvement

45

Stay on top of the information your kids are sharing online by becoming familiar with the websites they visit, and the apps they download.

46

Be on the lookout for potential signs of online abuse in your kids such as a change in the usage pattern of electronic devices, withdrawn and anxious behavior, or attempts to conceal online activities.

47

Become your child’s confidante so they always keep you in the loop when they face issues online.

48

Pay attention to any gifts or new toys that your kids are bringing home. Online predators can sometimes send physical gifts or letters to seduce kids.

49

Learn and understand the games your kids play online so you can keep an eye on the risky aspects of those games.

50

Never take a backseat from staying involved in your children’s online activities.

51

Spend more time with your children doing homework, playing games, or researching topics to build trust and to help you understand their online behavior.

Precautions

52

Always have robust anti-virus and anti-malware software up and running on the devices that your children use to access the internet.

53

If you allow your kids to use a mobile device to use the internet, make sure you invest in a kid-friendly mobile device.

54

Close any online accounts for your children that they no longer use or need to revisit.

55

Public Wi-Fi hot spots are easy targets for data hacks; ask kids to go private or use a VPN when accessing public Wi-Fi.